Potassium iodate is sometimes used for iodination of table salt to prevent iodine deficiency. Because iodide can be oxidized to iodine by molecular oxygen under wet conditions, US companies add thiosulfates or other antioxidants to the potassium iodide. In other countries, potassium iodate is used as a source for dietary iodine. It is also an ingredient in some baby formula milk.

An unopened box of potassium iodate tablets, distributed to every household in Ireland in case of a terror attack on reprocessing plants such as Sellafield and nuclear power stations such as Wylfa in the United Kingdom. A scenario that upon later expert Irish examination in 2007, was found to not have justified their distribution.[8][5] The Irish government now upon realizing their error suggests that the tablets be disposed of with municipal waste.[5]